Years 11 & 12 – Curriculum Overview
All students have 6 subject lines in each semester throughout years 11 and 12. These subject lines are made up of General Subjects, Applied Subjects and Certificate courses.
All students must study Religion and Ethics or Study of Religion. Additionally, achieve a “C" standard at least one Unit of English or Essential English and one Unit of a maths subject (Maths Methods/General Maths/Essential Maths) to meet numeracy and literacy requirements for a Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE).
The remaining lines will be made up of a combination of Elective subjects, Certificate courses that support the needs of students pursuing their chosen pathway to employment or further education.
St Mary's College also is in the unique position to offer, free of charge, distance education subject provided and supported by FisherONE online education.
Click HERE for information on all FisherONE subjects available
Senior Years
The development of individualised learning pathways to suit the needs and strengths of each student is continued throughout the senior years (Years 10, 11 and 12) at St Mary's College. The College offers a variety of academic and vocational pathways allowing students to utilise their strengths and interests in maximising opportunities to qualify for a Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE).
© Brisbane Catholic Education, St Mary's College (2020)
Students planning to undertake tertiary study and able to plan courses with combinations of General subjects, Applied subjects and Certificate III or IV courses that meet the requirements of the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) to achieve an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank). Additionally, successful completion of a Certificate III or IV will result in the student being awarded a Rank score that can be used to access a wide range of tertiary study options.
Students with a vocational focus are catered for with a well-structured vocational pathways team at St Mary's College offering support, advice and an extensive work experience program. Students are able to access a wide range of accredited certificate courses from a range of Registered Training Organisations (RTO's). These RTO's include, but not limited to, the Maryborough Trade Training Centre, TAFE Queensland, Binnacle, ABC Consulting, Blue Print and Axiom College. St Mary's College is proud to be a member of 6 Gateway to Industry Training Programs (GISP) and offer a on campus Health Training Hub.
Students who undertake school-based traineeships/apprenticeships are supported in their studies with modified timetables in supporting their school and work-related studies.
Further information on subject/certificate offerings can be found in the curriculum handbooks and on the individual subject department pages.
Career Pathways
St Mary's College provides students with a wide range of experiences such that all have the opportunity to make informed, supported decisions in planning the pathway of their choice.
Some of the experiences available to students across a range of year levels include:
- Career investigation
- Try a Trade Days
- Doctor 4 a Day
- University Experience Days at 3 different Universities inYyears 9, 10 and 11.
- Tafe Trade Taster Program
- Structured work experience days
- Resume writing and Cover Letter support
- Health Industry Experience days
- Nursing and Midwifery Work Experience Program
- SET Plan interviews
- Australian Defence Force visits
- Further study advice
- QTAC application support
- First Aid and CPR Certificate
- Responsible Service of Alcohol Certificate
- Responsible Service of Gambling Certificate
Head Start Opportunities
St Mary's College students in years 11 and 12 are able to access multiple university subjects while they are at school. The student must be achieving a B grade average to apply. These subjects are free and can lead to direct access to related courses at a wide range of universities.
“Headstart" Programs offered by any university in Australia are supported.
More information on some options in Head Start can be found by clicking the below links:
“Completing a University Head Start subject in Engineering in
Year 11 enabled me to achieve outstanding results in my Senior
Physics class this year. It is also good knowing that I have
direct entry into an Engineering course at the university.”
(Year 12 student)
Vocational Education and Training
VET studies enable students to acquire workplace skills and qualifications through nationally recognised training organisations while still at school.
St Mary's College accesses a range of Registered Training Organisations (RTO's) allowing us to cater for the needs of students from virtually any area of interest. (This includes everything from trades, hospitality, sport and fitness, rural studies, legal, health…just to list a few) If a student has a need for certificate studies, we do everything possible to meet that need.
A wide range of School Based traineeships and apprenticeships are fully supported by dedicated pathways staff.
VET options are available to all year 11 and 12 students along with some year 10's on an individually assessed basis.
Courses offered at St Mary’s College
St Mary's College offers a variety of VET courses integrated into student's timetables on campus. These are all nationally accredited courses with certification.
Students are able to select one (or more) certificate qualifications to study. These qualifications are determined through competency-based assessment with those of a level III or above giving the student a Rank that can be used for university entry for a range of courses (provided they meet prerequisite requirements).
Courses offered on campus at St Mary's College include:
- Certificate I Construction
- Certificate II Sport and Recreation
- Certificate III Fitness
- Certificate II and III Hospitality
- Certificate IV Justice Studies
- Certificate II Sampling and Measurement
- Certificate III Laboratory Skills
- Certificate II Health Support Services
- Certificate III Health Services Assistant
- Certificate III Education Support(Teacher Aide)
“Completing the certificate IV course in crime and justice
has been advantageous for me as I am interested in the legal
system and how it works and I also get 8 QCE points. It is
also great to have the opportunity to get a direct entry
into the Bachelor of Criminology course at the University of
Sunshine Coast." (Year 12 student )
Courses offered offsite
Students at St Mary's have the opportunity to complete nationally accredited courses outside of the college. These students will have a day on an alternate campus and in most cases be allocated a study line such that they can catch up on missed schoolwork or course work.
TAFE
Students
are able to access a range of courses offered by TAFE Queensland with campuses
in Maryborough (Trade Training Centre) and at the TAFE Campus in Hervey Bay.
More information on these courses can be found on the TAFE at Schools Website.
TAFE at Schools
Maryborough Trade Training Centre
Below is a list of the courses currently being offered at the Maryborough Trade Training Centre:
- Certificate I Construction
- Certificate II Electrotechnology
- Certificate II Engineering Pathways
- Certificate II Automotive Vocational Preparation
School Links Courses
- Certificate II in Salon Assistant
- Certificate III in Makeup
Destination of Year 12
The Next Step post-school destination surveys identify the study, work or other point-in-time destinations of students who leave or complete school in Queensland. Click below to see St Mary's College 2024 Summary Report.
StMarysCollegeMaryborough_NextStep2024_Summary.pdf